Antenna device having circular array structure

Abstract

An antenna device having a circular array structure is disclosed. The disclosed device may include a multiple number of antennas positioned in a circular array and an upper board joined above the plurality of antennas, where each of the multiple antennas may include a reflector plate and at least one radiator joined to the reflector plate, and at least one FPCB joined to the reflector plates of a first antenna and a second antenna adjacent to each other from among the multiple antennas may further be included. The disclosed device can alleviate the performance degradation incurred by narrow reflector plates in an antenna device having a circular array structure and can provide radiation properties tantamount to essentially expanding the reflector plate of each antenna in an antenna device having a circular array structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A circular array antenna device comprising:
 a plurality of antennas positioned in a circular array; 
 an upper board joined above the plurality of antennas, 
 wherein each of the plurality of antennas comprises a reflector plate and at least one radiator joined to the reflector plate; and 
 at least one flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) joined to reflector plates of a first antenna and a second antenna from among the plurality of antennas, the first antenna and the second antenna adjacent to each other, 
 wherein a feed line for providing a radiator feed signal of each of the plurality of antennas and a grounding surface for providing a ground potential to the reflector plate of each of the plurality of antennas are formed on the upper board. 
 
     
     
       2. The circular array antenna device of  claim 1 , wherein the FPCB comprises a metal surface and a PSR (photoimageable solder resist) layer over the metal surface, and the PSR layer is joined to the reflector plate of the first antenna and the reflector plate of the second antenna. 
     
     
       3. The circular array antenna device of  claim 2 , wherein a choke member is formed on either one of the reflector plate of the first antenna and the reflector plate of the second antenna, and the FPCB is joined to the choke member. 
     
     
       4. The circular array antenna device of  claim 1 , wherein the FPCB is joined to the reflector plates of the first antenna and the second antenna by using a plastic rivet. 
     
     
       5. The circular array antenna device of  claim 2 , wherein the PSR layer of the FPCB directly contacts the reflector plates of the first antenna and the second antenna. 
     
     
       6. The circular array antenna device of  claim 5 , wherein the metal surface of the FPCB does not directly contact the reflector plates. 
     
     
       7. The circular array antenna device of  claim 5 , wherein the metal surface of the FPCB and the reflector plates are joined by an RF coupling method. 
     
     
       8. The circular array antenna device of  claim 1 , wherein the feed line is formed on an upper portion of the upper board and the grounding surface is formed on a lower portion of the upper board. 
     
     
       9. The circular array antenna device of  claim 1 , wherein the feed line is implemented in a form of metal patterns. 
     
     
       10. The circular array antenna device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower plate joined below the plurality of antennas, wherein electrical or RF circuits are formed on the lower plate.